The Missing One at OCA: sci fi art from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
In the new exhibition at OCA, language and technology common to the field of science fiction creates the backdrop to an exploration of human nature and how we position ourselves in an ever-expanding environment.
A painting from 1922 by the seminal Indian modernist Gaganendranath Tagore serves as a vantage point for the exhibition. The painting, which is loosely based on what is known as a preliminary science fiction story written in the Bengali language, depicts the ascending of a humanized entity to a celestial or spatial sphere removed of its earthly bounds
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Opening Into The Non-toxic, Colourful World of Valchromat
Valchromat is a very exciting material - and an excellent alternative to chipboard and MDF. Made with wood waste at a plant with zero carbon emission, its environmental credentials are pretty outstanding.
It is even 30% stronger than MDF and is coloured through with organic dyes, providing for stronger furniture where scratches and wear are less visible. It is non-toxic, emission free and is even approved for contact with food.
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Inn i naturen med Nils Faarlund
Nils Faarlund er en legendarisk norsk tenker, tindevegleder og naturvenn. Han er grunnleggeren av Norges Høgfjellsskole, gammel taukamerat av Arne Næss - og litt av en grufull klegg for de av oss som lider under vrangforestillingen om at vi kan forbruke oss ut av gjørma.
Vi har snakket med Nils om vesentligheten av å skille mellom miljøvern og naturvern, om stillhet og om hva vi som designere kan lære av naturen.
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UN Divided featured on Dezeen
Dezeen recently featured the UN Divided series of modular furniture designed by StokkeAustad for Elementa. Read the article here.
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Clear some space out so we can space out
Great Work is done in a great variety of ways. Finding and refining your personal set of techniques of work and time management is getting more and more imperative, as new tools, tasks - and distraction are changing the workplace.
Cal Newport’s Deep Work is one among several new books to emphasize the importance of retreating from the constant buzz - into zones of quiet, highly focused, uninterrupted work.
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StokkeAustad design modular workspace system for Elementa
Design studio StokkeAustad and Norwegian brand Elementa have developed a new furniture system to accommodate the need to easily set up, expand and move workspaces.
The central idea of the UN Divided system is a simple trestle made in tubular steel. With one module it is possible to support almost any type of table top size and shape. You can also build shelving, simple storage - and produce complete office landscapes.
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Per Esben Stoknes on Posession & Green Growth
Norwegian psychologist and author Per Espen Stoknes is - in our opinion among the most interesting figures on the international green scene.
A true Reality Hacker, he has found his way into the heart of the Norwegian Business School (BI) - and has collaborated with forces as diverse as Jørgen Randers and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He has also authored several books on climate change, money and psychology - including his latest book What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming.
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Learning from nature with Biomimicry
How do birds coordinate in flocks? How does a pine cone open and close depending on the weather? How do animals keep themselves warm? And how does all this relate to how we design our worlds?
We recently had Nina Havermans and Michel Wolfstirn over for an inspiring lunch presentation at Elementa. They run Biomimicry Norway together- an Oslo based non-profit seeking to explore and promote the practice of nature-inspired innovation.
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New colours for the UT Garden Desk
The Garden Desk, designed by Hallgeir Homstvedt, is a minimalist desk for home or office use - with an extra shelf for plants or the stuff you love.
The garden desk is available in various sizes, in a height adjustable version, and as a work bench. Originally launched in a warm grey linoleum, it can now also be made in all the other elegant colurs of the Forbo Desktop linoleum range.
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On mountaineering
"Remember, the mountain has held the rocks for millions of years. When the mountain eventually has to let go, you’ll make the mountain unhappy if you are hit!"
- Arne Næss on mountaineering (Norwegian philosopher and founder of Ecosophy)
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Kneip: Stack One thing on Another and Dip it in an Unknown Solution
While it has been suggested that era of the object is behind us, Norwegian art- and design studio Kneip are infusing their objects with meaning, beauty and a real sense of wonder.
Find below an account of our recent conversation with Stian of Kneip on their work, object culture and on natural corrosion.
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Green Growth: Growing strength or growing a tumour
Recently we had the pleasure to attend the annual Green Economy seminar at BI in Oslo. Even as the terminology of green may appear more and more inflated, we at Elementa remain intrigued by the concept of Green Growth: The idea of decoupling growth in value from growth in negative environmental consequences. Put somewhat extremely, It's about the difference between growing ones strength and growing a tumour.
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